Darren Clarke was impressed but unintimidated by his first look at Pebble Beach Golf Course, site of the U.S. Open, which starts today. "It's a better course than it looks on TV," said Clarke, who holds a substantial lead in the European Order of Merit, and threatens to end Colin Montgomerie's seven-year reign of supremacy.
"The course is demanding but fair,” said Clarke, after playing his first round at Pebble Beach. "If the wind blows, it may be a disadvantage not having played here before," he admitted, "But if I can keep some of the form I had last week in the English Open, I can get in a position to challenge.”
Favourite Tiger Woods tees off at 4.40pm Irish time, Padraig Harrington at 5.30pm, and Darren Clarke at 8.30pm.
